Lake Erie AVA
Marechal Foch, Merlot, Niagara, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling, Seyval blanc, Steuben, Touriga Nacional, Traminette, Vidal blanc, Vignoles[3] | |
| No. of wineries | 58[3] |
|---|---|
The Lake Erie AVA is an
History
Grapes were first cultivated in the area during the early nineteenth century, and many wineries survived Prohibition in the twentieth century by legally selling grapes to home winemakers, marketing their products solely for religious purposes such as kosher wines (which continues to the present day), converting to grape juice production for local companies such as Welch's, or illegally selling wine to consumers in Canada.
The wine industry in the Lake Erie region did not thrive after the repeal of Prohibition, however, and by 1967 there were fewer than twenty commercial wineries in the area.
Recently, Lake Erie wineries have begun planting and vinifying Vitis vinifera varieties in an attempt to improve wine quality.[3]
Geography
The region has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb) and the hardiness zone ranges from 6a in higher areas to 7a in some lakefront areas.
References
- ^ "§9.83 Lake Erie" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR). Retrieved February 5, 2008.
- ^ "American Viticultural Areas by State". Wine Institute. 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Lake Erie (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on May 15, 2015.